Hi, Gritten-Tells is back again! I'm terribly sorry for the lack of update for the past two weeks or so. I was gone overseas and only managed to update when I'm back in Singapore. And when I got back I quickly typed and uploaded this as soon as I finished and edited it. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Thank you readers for following/faving this story :) You guys are the best! I hope you'd enjoy this update, thank you.

Three shinigamis and one mod-soul walked in one single file, going deeper and deeper into the Silk Woven Palace. Kon was the one leading, followed by Rukia, Byakuya and lastly Senjumaru-dono herself.

None of them have spoken a word after what happened fifteen minutes ago…

Rukia bowed to female shinigami in respect after she had welcomed the Kuchiki siblings to her palace. "Greetings, Senjumaru-dono. It is an honour to meet you."

Senjumaru-dono nodded, and replied. "Kuchiki Rukia… Can I call you Rukia-chan? I believe this is the second time we'd met." Rukia looked confused, and she gave no explanation. Have they met before? Rukia couldn't remember, for she would be sure to remember her even if she've seen her across a distance.

Senjumaru-dono cocked her head to a side, touching her left cheek with her index finger while never leaving her eyes off Rukia. Not even once. "Oh my. I didn't realise what a little beauty you are, Rukia-chan. When I first laid eyes on you at the fourth division barracks, most of your body is covered up with bandages. You weren't a pretty sight to look at."

"Er.. thank you?" That was a compliment, right? The petite shinigami thought. Senjumaru-dono chuckled at her confused, yet adorable expression Rukia was making.

"Your brother was much worse when I came to fetch him." She switched her attention to Byakuya, who hadn't said a word since their encounter. He bowed at her respectfully, like his sister did, but said nothing. "He was literally on the brink death in the critical unit.'

Rukia visibly flinched at the mention of her brother's critical condition before they had stabilised themselves and gotten stronger in the various palaces they have been to. She had not seen the extent of Nii-sama's injuries first hand but she can imagine how bad they really were. To be honest, the thought of her Nii-sama dying had never crossed her mind a second time. (The first was when Nii-sama risked his life to take the blow from Gin Ichimaru's Shinsou and Aizen Sosuke was about to finish them off). The thought of Nii-sama dying terrifies her, making her crippled with fear.

She was afraid… afraid of… losing him forever.

Senjumaru-dono lingered her gaze on the Kuchiki siblings a while longer before she zeroed in on the tiny budge on Rukia's left sleeve.

"There you are." Her grin stretched wider, haughtily, into a sly smile. "My little pin-cushion."

Kon let out another horrified shriek when he heard that dreadful nickname Senjumaru-dono had bestowed him. He tried to crawl deeper into Rukia's sleeve for protection, and possibly for his life. His sudden and (highly) suspicious perverse actions caused Rukia to cry out.

"Kon!" She delved her hand into her sleeve and tried to grab hold of his hind legs, or his tail. "Cut it out! Stop burrowing yourself into my-"

Rukia didn't manage to finish her sentence as she felt a gust of wind blew against her. A pale arm grabbed onto Kon's figure, halting his actions effectively. Attached to the arm was a livid Nii-sama, with a very murderous reiatsu radiating from him.

"Get your paws off my sister… now."

Poor Kon, she thought, she feel bad for him, seeing the mod-soul shudder with every step he took. Rukia wedged herself in between him and Nii-sama, hoping to ease some of the tension between them. She couldn't help feeling it was partly her fault, too. She should have paid more attention to Kon's discomfort around Senjumaru-dono and seen it coming.

"To your left, Rukia-chan." Senjumaru-dono directed her where to go from behind. They were going to rest in the guest chambers for the night- Rukia wondered how the zero guard officer can tell night from day when the sky doesn't change colour at all.

I guess that living long enough in the Spirit Palace would teach you. She thought, then she yawned a little. She rubbed her eye, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. I guess it's really night time now or I wouldn't feel so tired like I am now.

"There it is. Up ahead." Came Senjumaru-dono's voice from behind. They stood in front of the guest chambers which was a room divided by shoji doors, making its appearance looked halved and smaller. It was furnished with little but necessary furniture. Rukia and Byakuya took off their getas before stepping into one of the halved rooms.

"This would be where you would be staying for the time being." Senjumaru-dono told them. "Get some rest now. Tomorrow I'll summon you to my chambers and take your measurements."

"M-measurements?" Rukia was stunned.

"Of course. Why do you think this is called the Silk Woven Palace? Look around you, I'm sure you've seen layers and layers of cloths lying about. I take charge of weaving the attires of whoever passes here; I design the attires to suit the personality of each shinigami. This is my specialty."

She glanced down at Kon, who kept his paws to himself this time, but couldn't help hide himself behind Rukia's leg whenever Senjumaru-dono gave him that look. "I trust you would wake them when morning comes, am I right?" She paused, for a dramatic effect. "Pin-cushion?"

Another shudder went down his back as the mod-soul stammered, "Y-yes, M-m-madam."

"Good." She addressed to the Kuchiki siblings again. "Rest well, the two of you. Especially you, my dear Rukia-chan. You'd be the first to leave my palace when I finished weaving your attire. You'd be able to catch up with Renji-kun, whom I believe he has begun his training in the next palace."

"I see." Rukia smiled when she thought of her friend whom she knew since childhood. It was a relief to know that she and Nii-sama were not far from him. She hadn't heard any news about Ichigo yet, he probably hadn't stepped foot into this palace yet. She hoped wherever he is, he is doing fine, and somehow got accepted again to make his way back to the Spirit Palace.

She replayed Senjumaru-dono's words in her head, her smile disappeared when she thought something was odd. Wait a minute. "With all due respect, Senjumaru-dono, may I ask what about Nii-sama? Wouldn't he be journeying to the next palace with me?"

"No." She shook her head. "I'll be sending you off first. I can't send him together with you or he would try to hinder you."

"Hinder me?" Rukia repeated her words in disbelief. She tried to keep her tone to a minimum level while defending for her Nii-sama. "What do you mean? Nii-sama would never do that to me -"

"Have you ever asked yourself why you aren't promoted to a seated officer until now?" Senjumaru-dono interrupted, causing Rukia to blink in surprise. "You were recently promoted to a Lieutenant, correct?"

"H-how did you know?"

"Word travels." Senjumaru-dono replied mysteriously, two skeleton-like arms emerged from her back and folded itself on her chest as she spoke. She glanced up from the petite shinigami to Byakuya. "I see you that your brother has kept you in the dark all this time, and continues to do so."

Byakuya stiffened upon hearing it. "Not another word." He warned the latter with a hard glint in his eye.

What is she saying? And what is Nii-sama been hiding from me… again*?

"Haven't you noticed, Rukia?" The Zero Guard officer ignored him, continuing to speak to his sister. "The amount of reiatsu radiating from you… And your zanpakuto's recent ability to materialise in front of you… Haven't you noticed it at all? Your brother had already known that you are ready for the next step, yet he refrained himself from telling you."

Rukia glanced from her to Nii-sama, she met his gaze which were silently telling her not to listen to her. She switched her attention back at Senjumaru-dono again and narrowed her eyes warily. "What is this next step you are talking about?"

Senjumaru-dono grinned, amused at the innocent and naïve character of hers. It's no wonder Kuchiki Byakuya wanted to keep her in the dark in order to keep her safe.

Byakuya growled inaudibly, wanting to shunpo to Rukia to cover her ears, or knock her out (if he dared) so she would never know what would be revealed to her. But he was one step too late when a single word rolled off her tongue, causing Rukia's violet eyes to widen in disbelief.

"Bankai."

*Again- The first being Byakuya not telling the reason why he adopted Rukia in the first place was because she was Hisana's sister.

Hmm.. When I was typing this chapter I felt there's a lack of Byakuya's interaction and thoughts, so I would be covering that in the next chapter. Look out for the next update, I'll also hurry up with the next chapter of Beach Outing. Stay tuned! :D